The former company director of an alternatives asset manager which collapsed into administration in 2012 was found dead last month in a car park in Boxhill, Surrey.

Alistair Mawdsley, the former director and company secretary of Connaught Asset Management, was found dead on March 10, 2014 at around 1.45pm, police say. The identity of the body has only recently emerged.

Mawdsley had been frequently referenced in press articles and was the subject of campaigns by an internet group against the former directors of Connaught Asset Management, which was placed into administration on September 18, 2012. The company had funds that targeted returns from loans made through third parties in the form of bridging loans. The funds were sold through independent financial advisers and investment consultants.

In May 2011, the FSA issued a warning note over Connaught’s Income Funds, warning that the risk level might not be as had been advertised. By March 2012, the first fund had been suspended, and by the summer two others had also been suspended.

George Patellis, the former chief executive of Tiuta – the bridging lender that loaned out some of Connaught investors’ money – was one of those individuals who raised concerns about Connaught with the Financial Services Authority. Speaking about Mawdsley’s death, he said: “I feel a lot of sympathy for his family and his friends. It is a tragedy. I can only imagine what his family is going through. It really affected me when I heard about it.

“[The collapse of Connaught] affected a lot of people’s lives. I’ve gone through my own personal hell. I have had my daughter getting calls on her mobile at university, my kids getting contacted on Facebook. I don’t know what he went through, but I can imagine.”

An email believed to have been sent by Mawdsley to former colleagues and associates an hour before his body was found, stated that he had struggled to obtain work in the City in the aftermath of Connaught’s collapse, according to two people who have seen the note. His wife declined to comment.

In a statement, Surrey Police said: “Officers were called to the scene after concerns were raised for a man at the location. On arrival, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The death is currently being treated as unexplained, but there is not believed to be any third-party involvement or threat to the wider community at this stage.”

Connaught had been set up in 2007 and Mawdsley owned 40% of the business. In 2009, Mawdsley became the sole owner of the company, according to accounts filed at Companies House. Its net profit was £913,188 in the 12 months to 31 January 2011.